A much cheaper and greener route to monodisperse CdSe quantum dots (QDs) with zinc-blende structure has been developed. The N,N-dimethyl-oleoyl amide was chosen as the solvent, eliminating the needs of air-sensitive and toxic trioctylphosphine (TOP) or tributylphosphine (TBP), and cadmium oxide and elemental selenium as sources. The as-prepared CdSe QDs show an apparent blue-shift in the ultraviolet and visible (UV-vis) absorption peaks. The emission peak of the QDs can be tuned by changing synthesis time only. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.